Circulation Policies

Alvin Sherman Library Access

In order to gain access to services at the Alvin Sherman Library (ASL) it is mandatory to have a library card. What library cards work at the NSU Alvin Sherman Library?

1. If you are a NSU student, faculty or staff, your NSU ID (SharkCard) is your library card.
2. NSU Alvin Sherman Library card (ASL public card)
   Anyone living, working or going to school in Broward County is eligible to apply for an ASL card. You obtain a card 4 different ways:

• In person: Receive your library card immediately (with proper verification of eligibility) at our 1^st floor Circulation Desk. 

• Sherman E-card: The Sherman Library E-Card is for Broward County Library users who have a card in good standing with the county library system. The E-Card allows you to get a “virtual” library card and access all available remote Library resources. You can apply for an e-card at https://lib.nova.edu/ecard. Sherman E-cards can be converted to physical NSU Alvin Sherman Library card at anytime in person at our Library’s Circulation Desk. Proof of eligibility is required for converting the Sherman Library E-Card to a NSU Alvin Sherman Library card.

• Sherman Express Card: Our online Express Card is designed for 30 day access to all of our all available remote Library resources only. This option is only if you live, work or go to school in the Broward County and do not have either a current NSU Alvin Sherman Library card or Broward County Library card. It can be converted to a physical NSU Alvin Sherman Library card at anytime when visiting our Library’s Circulation Desk. Proof of eligibility is required for converting the Sherman Library Express Card to a NSU Alvin Sherman Library card. Please visit https://public.library.nova.edu/card/ to apply for an Express Card.

• Broward County Library (BCL) branch. As library partners, NSU ASL card applications are available at every BCL branch. Your branch will fax your completed application to us and we’ll mail it directly to your home address.

A NSU Alvin Sherman Library card is active for three years. To renew your card, you must show Proof of BC affiliation and photo ID. See Terms & Conditions. Replacement fee for this card is $1.00. NSU students, faculty, or staff can get a replacement SharkCard through the NSU Campus Card Services in the Horvitz Administration Building.

3. NSU Alumni

If you live, work or go to school in Broward County, we encourage you to apply for the NSU Alvin Sherman Library card (public). All other alumni can receive a library card with their Alumni Association membership or proof of graduation (available through the NSU Alumni Association) at the first floor circulation desk.

4. SEFLIN One Card Program

The Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) One Card Program is a reciprocal borrowing program available to the libraries within the SEFLIN region (Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties). ASL is a SEFLIN member and abides by the rules and guidelines of the SEFLIN organization. The SEFLIN One Card introduces the holder to another campus library and requests special use and borrowing privileges. The lending library reserves the right to confirm the validity of a card or to refuse issuance of a card. The lending library also reserves the right of borrowing privileges. Further information at SEFLIN One Card Borrowing Guidelines.

Borrow/Check out materials

Check out

• Check out any circulating materials at the 1^st floor circulation desk with one of the 4 library card options listed above.
• Borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fines may vary depending on the patron type, item type and item location. For further information, please refer to Borrowing privileges and Fines policies listed below.
• If you cannot find an item on the shelf, please check nearby study tables, book carts and copy rooms. Still can’t find it? Place a hold request through our online catalog and we will contact you once it’s found.

Renewals
You can extend the borrowing time of your item, if is not overdue or there is no hold placed on it: Renew it either:

• Online through My Library Account.
• Over the phone by calling the Circulation Desk.
• In person by visiting the Circulation Desk.

You must renew before or on the due date in order to renew successfully. If your item is overdue, you must pay any outstanding fines before renewing or checking out items (see below for details on fines).

Holds

Placing a hold on an item is easy.  Here’s how:

• Search through our online library catalog or search our Shark Search though our homepage for a broader access
• Call (954) 262-4601
• Visit the ASL at the 1^st floor Circulation Department

Here some things to know:

• Checked out items with holds cannot be renewed.
• You will receive an email notifying you when the library receives the item.
• Items are held for 5 days.
• Online holds on available items take a maximum of 2 business days to process (borrowing of items is on a first come first serve basis).
• You can hold a maximum of 20 items.
• To request books or journal articles not available at the Alvin Sherman Library you can use ILLiad, the Interlibrary Loan service.
  For more information on requesting items via Interlibrary Loan, please see Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan.

• BCL materials are held at the ASL Circulation Desk until the pickup-by date. You will need to show your BCL card.All patrons have a maximum of 20 holds.

Returning checked out materials

Returning your materials:

You are responsible for returning borrowed materials from this library in their original condition by the due date. However, if you return your borrowed materials late, you will not incur any late fines. We reserve the right to assess and declare the condition of all returned materials. For further information, please see Material Replacement policy.

You can also return any BCL materials to our Circulation desk.

Fines and Fees

As of November 1, 2022, the Alvin Sherman Library is late fines free. Furthermore, any existing late fines have been waived. Any other borrowed materials related fines that are not defined as late fines are still in effect.

The Alvin Sherman Library sends overdue notices (email or mail) to remind you of your past due borrowed materials. After a certain time, all late borrowed materials will be billed to you, if not returned. You will be responsible for replacement charges of all borrowed materials not returned. Please note that if you have been billed for replacement charges, you can still return the borrowed materials and not get charged late fees.

Failure to receive a library notice does not remove a borrower’s obligation to return borrowed materials.

• Borrowing privileges maybe suspended until you return all overdue materials.
• Fines in excess of $15.00 may result in a Library block on your account. NSU students or staff records that are blocked will result in unavailability of student transcripts and/or graduation.
• Lost/damaged materials cost of the item plus an additional $15.00 processing fee. If the item is out of print, the fine is a $35.00 charge plus an additional $15.00 processing fee. See the library’s Material Replacement Policy for more information.

Pay your ASL fines online at sherman.library.nova.edu/fees/. We also accept cash loaded onto a SharkCard/ASL public card. We do not accept direct cash.

Loan Periods and Borrowing Privileges

Loan periods vary by a combination of material type, location, and user category. For detailed borrowing privilege information, select patron type:

NSU Faculty, Staff & Students

Print Course Reserves

NSU faculty can place books, journals, and articles, and other materials on reserve for a course. NSU students can find the course reserves items in NovaCat by the professor’s name or the course number. Course reserves items circulate for 2 hours (in library use only) or for 24 hours.

• Check out reserve materials at the Circulation Desk.
• Students must present a current SharkCard to check out reserve materials.
• There is a fine of $0.25 per hour per item for materials returned late.

Placing Materials on Course Reserves:

All print materials submitted for course reserves must be accompanied by a completed Course Reserves Form. Please be advice the following information before placing items in Print Reserve:

• Library-owned materials: The professor can submit items from the ASL collections directly to the Circulation Desk.
• Faculty-owned materials: Expect some amount of wear on your itemswhile on reserve. The Library will not accept responsibility for damage to personal materials.
• Print-copied materials: Submit, clean, first generation copies of material.

• Allow three business days at the beginning of each term, and one business day during the term to process materials and make available for students.
• Faculty members must obtain copyright permission if applicable for print course reserves. For assistance or further information about obtaining copyright permission, visit the Copyright and Fair Use Resourcesor the Office of Copyright.
• Faculty has the option to place reading materials on electronic course reserves. Please access Electronic Course Reserves (ECR)for further information.

Removing Materials from Course Reserves:

Faculty may request removal of reserve materials at any time. After each semester, we will remove all expired items from reserves and return them to the professor via interoffice mail.  They are also available at the Circulation Desk for pickup. We reshelf all other Library materials to the appropriate locations.

Dissertations

• NSU Dissertations in print are available at the 1^st floor Circulation Desk to NSU students, staff and faculty ONLY. ASL public cardholders can review them up to 2 hours inside the library.
• To request a print Dissertation:
• Locate the items using our online catalog for the author and title of the material
• Come to the Circulation Desk to request it. You must have a SharkCard or ASL public card.

To Access online dissertations, visit our E-Library for a complete list of databases related to dissertations. Use Ask a Librarian service for further information.

Reduced Fare College Student Bus Pass

Qualified students may purchase a College Student Bus Pass for Broward County for $50.00 with cash loaded onto a SharkCard, or an ASL public card. Credit card payment methods are available online after contacting the Circulation Desk at 954-262-4601. Direct cash is not an accepted payment method. As per Broward County Transit Policies no refunds are provided.

The bus pass is good for 31 consecutive days of unlimited rides starting the first day it is used.

You can purchase a bus pass, If you currently attend one of the following:

• College
• University
• Vocational, Trade or Technical School

To purchase a bus pass, you will need to show your current student identification card or your current class schedule. If student ID card does not include a picture, a photo ID is also required.

For more information or assistance with route planning, go to Broward County Transit, or call 954-357-8400; 954-357-8302 (hearing/speech impaired/TTY).